Jackson Scores Soviet Lobbying

March 23, 1973

WASHINGTON (Mar. 22)

Sen. Henry M. Jackson today described the Soviet government’s waiver of its education tax on some prospective emigrants in the past few days as “a beginning” and “not a substitute for a policy and a program” of emigration. Reiterating that Congressional legislation bearing his name on the emigration issue will be “enacted into law,” Jackson, in an address before the National Press Club, lashed out at “lobbying” against it by Soviet officials in Washington and at its Congressional opponents.

Jackson told approximately 400 newsmen including Soviet media representatives that Russians have said here his bill would create anti-Semitism. In a rising voice he declared: “They are experts at anti-Semitism. They have been at it and against other minorities for centuries.”

He asked what would happen if American officials in Moscow “lobbied” the Supreme Soviet and added, “that opportunity is not there.” Jackson denounced as “nonsense” the charges that Mis amendment would be “interference” in the Soviet Union’s internal affairs.

In discussing energy problems, Jackson observed that the $20 billion research program he is advocating for the next 10 years would “show the foreign countries, especially the Middle East” that “we have an alternative” in fuels and will not be subjected to “blackmail.”